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The Weight of Sound
Peter McDade, Author
The Weight of Sound, a debut novel by writer and musician Peter McDade, carries readers through 25 years in the life of Spider Webb. Spider as a teenager announces to his parents that he will skip high school graduation and move to Athens, Ga. to launch his musical career in the town that gave birth to R.E.M. and the B-52s. A chorus of narrators, including bandmates, roadies, girlfriends, record executives, and fans, reveal what happens behind the music of a touring musician on the rise in an industry whose business model in the 90s is on the decline
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: The plot of this winning novel is straightforward, well crafted, and engaging. The book moves along at a good pace and will keep readers turning pages.
Prose: The prose here is excellent. The author's style and his attention to detail are both consistently strong.
Originality: The dark underside of the music business has been written about before, but here it seems real and fresh.
Character Development: Spider's obsession with his music is well rendered, and the way music pulls him back from the depths is believable. The struggles of those he leaves by the side of the road along the way sound genuine.
Date Submitted: August 21, 2017
